Angola will step down from its position as a mediator between parties involved in an escalating Rwanda-backed rebel offensive in eastern Congo, the presidency said on Monday, with another African state set to lead efforts to get peace talks back on track.

Angola is terminating its mediation efforts for the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to allow President Joao Lourenco to focus on his new role as chairman of the African Union.

(Reuters) - Rwanda-backed M23 rebels said on Monday that they had withdrawn from planned peace talks aimed at resolving a spiralling conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo after the EU imposed sanctions on its leader and on Rwandan army commanders.